Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

Śrāddha-prayoga: Niyama, Brāhmaṇa-parīkṣā, Kutapa-kāla, Tithi-nyāya, and Vaiṣṇava-phala

Devanagari script

अध्वगश्चातुरश्चैव विहीनश्च धनैस्तथा । आमश्राद्धं प्रकुर्वीत हेम्ना वास्पृश्यभार्यकः ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

adhvagaścāturaścaiva vihīnaśca dhanaistathā | āmaśrāddhaṃ prakurvīta hemnā vāspṛśyabhāryakaḥ || 77 ||

Translation

യാത്രക്കാരനും കഴിവുള്ളവനും ധനഹീനനും പോലും ആപത്സ്രാദ്ധം നടത്തണം; ആവശ്യമെങ്കിൽ സ്വർണ്ണം കൊണ്ടോ, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ഭാര്യയെ സ്പർശിച്ച് (പ്രതിനിധി വിധിയായി)യും ചെയ്യാം.

Word by Word

• अध्वगः: a traveler
• अध्वगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे कर्तृपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• आतुरः: distressed/afflicted
• आतुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• विहीनः: deprived/lacking
• विहीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विहीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• धनैः: by/with wealth
• धनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: likewise)

• आमश्राद्धम्: an uncooked/raw śrāddha offering
• आमश्राद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आम-श्राद्ध (प्रातिपदिक; आम + श्राद्ध)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• प्रकुर्वीत: should perform
• प्रकुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हेम्ना: with gold
• हेम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (disjunctive particle)

• अस्पृश्यभार्यकः: a man with an ‘untouchable/impure’ wife
• अस्पृश्यभार्यकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्पृश्य-भार्यक (प्रातिपदिक; अस्पृश्य + भार्यक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (one whose wife is ‘untouchable’/impure)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It emphasizes that ancestral duty (śrāddha-dharma) should not be abandoned due to travel or poverty; the Purāṇa allows simplified means so the intention and obligation are preserved.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While not explicitly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional dharma by safeguarding daily sacred duties; maintaining śrāddha sustains family sanctity and gratitude, which complements a life of worship and discipline.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) principles—providing sanctioned substitutions (vikalpa) when standard materials are unavailable, a key feature of applied Vedic ritual science.